Overview

Undergraduate and graduate teacher education students seeking certification in grades PK-4, 4-8 or 7-12 in regular education and/or special education are required to complete field experiences for most education courses every semester. Graduate students who are working full-time will need to be available for these placements during the regular school day. These field experiences allow teacher candidates to make explicit connections with course content and promote understanding of student cognitive development, motivation and learning styles.

Applying for Fieldwork Experiences

Undergraduate and graduate students apply for field experiences by completing the Field Experience Placement Request at the time of course registration. Students who already have a placement (i.e. student teaching, CTE, TTR, etc.) must also complete this form so we can confirm that your placement site meets course requirements. Graduate students already working in schools may be able to use their own classrooms or schools for field experiences.

*It is important to note that the online application for field experiences is NOT the same as the Student Teaching Application and will NOT influence your Student Teaching placement.

Please review the Fieldwork Course Descriptions document to determine if your courses require fieldwork and what you can expect for the fieldwork.

Background Clearances

To participate in field experiences, students must obtain the following clearances every year:

•    Federal FBI Criminal History Report
•    Pennsylvania State Criminal History Record (Act 34)
•    Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 51)
•    Proof of Tuberculin Skin Test
All clearances must be valid through the entire academic year in which the field experience occurs and uploaded to EdPortal. No placements are made without submission of the required clearances. See details online at Required Clearances for Temple Students Completing Fieldwork Courses.